Inside The Bills

Darius Rucker, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Hootie & the Blowfish and hit solo country artist, will sing the national anthem at Buffalo’s home opener on Thursday, September 15th at New Era Field.

Since re-introducing himself to the world as a country artist, his musical life has had a truly remarkable second act.

His newest release, “Southern Style,” sees Rucker expanding his range and pushing his limits. Rucker’s fourth solo album as a country artist, reveals a sound and a spirit that brings him closer than ever to the genre’s fundamentals. From “Homegrown Honey’s” country-girl-gone-uptown, to the back-porch party in “Dixie Cup,” the thirteen songs on “Southern Style” are filled with the instruments and images that define a region and its musical traditions.

For all of the different facets of “Southern Style,” perhaps the song that best fulfills Darius Rucker’s intentions is the bittersweet “You Can Have Charleston,” set in his beloved hometown. “That song is all about the place—the topsails and steeples,” he says. “Even though the guy in the song is leaving, you can tell how much he loves the city. It describes Charleston so well, and when you get to that chorus, it’s just unbelievable.”

The multi-platinum artist will take the field prior to kickoff, as the Bills take on division rival the New York Jets in primetime.